News Release
SIU Concludes Investigation into Man’s Death in Ottawa
Case Number: 23-OCI-309
Other News Releases Related to Case 23-OCI-309
The Director of the Special Investigations Unit, Joseph Martino, found no reasonable grounds to believe two Ottawa Police Service officers committed a criminal offence in connection with the death of a 25-year-old man in August.
On August 3, 2023, officers were called to a residence for a domestic disturbance. The man was arrested for assault and possession of drugs, and placed in a cell. While in his cell, the man apparently ingested a substance he had retrieved from his buttocks. A short time later he became unresponsive in his cell. Officers provided emergency first aid, and paramedics took him to hospital where he died five days later.
Full Director’s Report (with Incident Narrative, Evidence, and Analysis & Director’s Decision):
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Monica Hudon, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES